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Manning has always led winners

Current Broncos, former Colts teams similar in many ways

By Mike Klis The Denver Post

Posted:
01/05/2013 10:45:07 PM MST

Updated:
01/05/2013 10:45:13 PM MST

ENGLEWOOD -- This isn't the first time Peyton Manning has gone into the NFL playoffs with a 13-3 team.

The Broncos are his third 13-game winner. He also has quarterbacked two 14-2 teams. And four 12-4 teams. For kicks, check out this seven-season stretch of team records Manning helped compile from 2003-09 with the Indianapolis Colts: 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4, 13-3, 12-4, 14-2. The man averages 13-3.

Given the volume of Manning's successful seasons, it wasn't easy to determine where these Broncos rank among his best teams with Indianapolis. It would be easy to rank the 2006 Colts at No. 1 because that's the only one that won the Super Bowl.

"I think 2005 was our best," said Brandon Stokley, the Broncos' slot receiver now and through the Colts' most offensively explosive term, from 2003-06. "But that just goes to show that if you don't finish off the season right, you're just another team."

Are these Broncos the best team Manning has led into the postseason?

"That's a hard question to answer," said Denver tight end Jacob Tamme, who played for the Colts from 2008-11. "I was blessed to play on some very good teams in Indy. I'll say this: We have a chance to be an outstanding team. But that's still to be determined."

Where these Broncos seem to have it over most of Manning's Indianapolis teams is on defense. Manning had always been supported by a defense with elite bookend pass rushers. But for the first time, there also is a Hall of Fame-bound cornerback, Champ Bailey, on his team.

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"I really haven't made a whole lot of comparisons, but our defense has been outstanding all year," Manning said this week. "Our offense has fed off our defense. That's one of the best things this team has done. If the offense was in a rut, defense picked us up. The defense was bending a little bit, the offense picked them up. That's what you've got to have, to me, as a team."

Manning's Indianapolis teams also never had a punter the equal of Denver's Britton Colquitt, a kicker with the leg strength of Denver's Matt Prater or a returner anywhere near the home run threat that is Denver's Trindon Holliday.

Then again, as versatile as Denver's running back rotation has been this season, there is no Edgerrin James, who starred for the Colts. And while the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker have emerged as among the NFL's top two or three receiver tandems, the Colts' Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne arguably were the best pass-catching duo in league history.

Here's how the Broncos match up against the best the Colts had at a particular position, and season, during the Manning years:

Defense: 2005 Colts

The Colts' 2005 defense was the best in the Manning years, ranking second in points allowed. Outside linebacker Cato June had 102 tackles and five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney combined for 22½ sacks and 14 forced fumbles. This season the Broncos ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 4 in scoring defense and tied for No. 1 in sacks with 52. Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil combined for 29½ sacks and 12 forced fumbles. They also play the run much better than Freeney and Mathis. Denver's cornerbacks opposite Bailey -- Chris Harris and Tony Carter -- have combined for four touchdown returns off turnovers. Advantage: 2012 Broncos.

Quarterback: 2004 Colts

Manning was never better. He had a career-high 121.1 passer rating and threw 49 touchdown passes. This season, he threw 37 touchdown passes and had a 105.8 passer rating with the Broncos. Few quarterbacks ever dominated a season as Manning did in 2004. But like John Elway in the final three years of his career, Manning may not have the arm he once he had ... but he's a better quarterback. Advantage: Draw.

Receivers: 2004 Colts

Harrison, Wayne and Stokley each had 1,000 yards receiving. Harrison had 86 catches and 15 touchdowns. Wayne had 77 catches and 12 touchdowns. Stokley had 68 catches and 10 touchdowns. Denver's Thomas-Decker duo is bigger and appears to have Super Bowl-winning potential. Still, we're talking Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. "Those are two Hall of Famers," Bailey said. "You can't argue with that one. It's tough. D.T. and Decker are just now coming into their own and playing great. But you can't knock Marvin and Reggie." Advantage: 2004 Colts.

Running backs: 2006 Colts

Is it a coincidence the Colts won it all the year after they shifted from James' one-back attack to a two-back system? Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 1,726 yards rushing, 576 yards receiving (2,302 combined yards) and 14 touchdowns. This season the Broncos' tailback position produced a combined 1,586 yards rushing and 450 yards receiving (2,036 total yards) from Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman. Advantage: 2006 Colts.

Offensive line:

2004-06 Colts

The Colts used three left guards in this period -- the best was Ryan Lilja in 2005. Left tackle Tarik Glenn retired after the 2006 season at age 30. This season, the Broncos used two right guards. The better is Chris Kuper, who made only five starts because of injuries. Manning was sacked 13, 17 and 14 times during this three-year period. He was sacked 21 times this season with the Broncos. Advantage: Draw.

Tight end: 2009 Colts

Dallas Clark caught 100 passes. Gijon Robinson, Tony Santi and a young Tamme combined for 20 more. A more experienced Tamme had 52 catches for the Broncos this season. Starting tight end Joel Dreessen added 41. Seldom-used Virgil Green is the best blocker of both groups. Advantage: 2009 Colts.

Punter: 2002 Colts

Hunter Smith finished ninth in the NFL with a net average of 38.1 yards, the only time he finished in the top 10. Colquitt finished third in the league this season with a net average of 42.1 yards. Advantage: Colquitt, Broncos.

Kicker: 2003 Colts

Mike Vanderjagt was 37-of-37 on field goals in 2003. But he badly missed a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds of the Colts' 21-18 loss to Pittsburgh in a 2005 playoff game. And he was pitiful at kickoffs. Prater went through a midseason slump and ended up making 18-of-26 kicks. Prater ranked No. 2 in touchback percentage this season. Advantage: Prater on leg strength and clutch kicks.

Returner: 2004 Colts

The Colts were never a threat on kickoff and punt returns. Rhodes ranked ninth in kickoff returns with a 24.8-yard average but had no touchdowns. The Broncos have Trindon Holliday, who has kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns this season. Advantage: Holliday, Broncos.

Conclusion

The Broncos have a better defense and better special teams than most of Manning's best teams with the Colts. Manning had slightly better offense with the Colts from 2004-06.

Overall, Manning's best team was the 2005 Colts -- yet it didn't win a playoff game.

"I felt like that team could have gone 16-0," Stokley said. "But we kind of pulled the reins back and then we flopped in the playoffs. That was the biggest disappointment."

That's another factor these Broncos have on those 2005 Colts: Denver needed to win the final 11 games to have a shot at the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC. The top seed was an unexpected bonus.

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